Ultrasonography-guided sialolithotomy and stricture dilations of the major salivary glands: a preliminary study

Aim of the study: The present preliminary study aims to evaluate the possible positive outcomes of ultrasonography-guided sialolithotomies and duct stricture dilations utilizing stone retrieval baskets and guide wires. Case description: A total of 6 cases in an ongoing study (4 cases of sialolithiasis and 2 cases of duct strictures with intraluminal adhesion) were analyzed. All sialoliths were <5 mm in diameter. Stone removals and duct dilations were performed under ultrasonography guidance with two different types of linear probes. Edema measurements were carried out, and the area of edema was evaluated via the echogenicity changes. Patient satisfaction was also evaluated by the patients themselves using a Visual Analog Scale questionnaire on postoperative day 0, and on days 1, 2, and 3. Conclusions: There were no postoperative complications, and mouth openings returned to normal at 7-day follow-up. The pain scores decreased after 6 hours, and pain subsided completely after 12 hours in all the patients. Edema also resolved gradually after the operation. The patient satisfaction levels were high.

Management of biliary diseases after the failure of initial needle knife precut sphincterotomy for biliary cannulation

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is not always successful even with needle knife precut sphincterotomy (NKPS). How to manage these patients with initial NKPS failure has not been well studied. We report the outcomes of patients who received endoscopic and non-endoscopic rescue treatment after the initial NKPS failure. During the 15 years from 2004 to 2018, 87 patients with initial NKPS failure received interval endoscopic treatment (IET group, n = 43), percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD group, n = 25), or bile duct surgery (BDS group, n = 19) were retrospectively studied. Compared with the PTBD group, the prevalence of choledocholithiasis was higher (69.8% vs. 16.0%, p < 0.001), and malignant bile duct stricture were lower (20.9% vs. 76.0%, p < 0.001) in the IET group. Furthermore, the IET group had a significantly longer time interval between the first and second treatment procedures (4 days vs. 2 days, p = 0.001), a lower technique success rate (79.1% vs. 100%, p = 0.021), and a shorter length of hospital stay (7 days vs. 18 days, p < 0.001). Compared to the BDS group, the only significant finding was that the patients in the IET group were older. Although not statistically significant, the complication rate was lowest in the IET group (7.0%) while highest in the BDS group (15.8%). Complications in the IET group were also mild, as compared with the other two groups. In conclusion, IET should be considered after initial failed NKPS for deep biliary cannulation before contemplating more invasive treatment such as BDS. PTBD may be the alternative therapy for patients with malignant biliary obstruction.

Clinical spectrum of obstructive jaundice: a descriptive crosssectional study

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical spectrum of obstructive jaundice in inflammation, stone disease, and malignancy. Methods. A descriptive observational study was done among 50 patients with the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice during the period 2012 to 2013. A detailed history and clinical examinations and radiological confirmation were done. Results. Among the participants, 74% participants had jaundice, 58% with vomiting as presenting complaints. Among benign cases, 60% were choledocholithiasis, 25% were common bile duct stricture, and 15% were choledochal cyst. Among malignant cases, 26.67% were periampullary carcinoma, 23.33% had carcinoma of the pancreas head, and 13.33% had D2 duodenal carcinoma. Conclusions. The etiology of obstructive jaundice was malignancy in the elderly male population. The most common presenting features were yellowish discoloration of skin and mucosa followed by vomiting and abdominal pain.

When in Trouble Think of the Bubble: Paradoxical Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism after Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Air embolism (a result of direct communication with the vasculature and an external pressure gradient from the gastrointestinal or the biliary tract), although rare, is a potentially devastating adverse event seen in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. Whether venous, arterial, or paradoxical, the clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic patients to cardiorespiratory arrest. This is of particular importance because it makes the diagnosis of air embolism even more difficult in an already sedated patient. Since early recognition increases the chances of patients’ survival, endoscopists should be highly motivated and trained to recognize this complication as early as possible. With only 60 cases of air embolism reported (and even fewer related to paradoxical air embolism), we aimed to report a case of paradoxical cerebral air embolism in a patient undergoing ERCP due to a common bile duct stricture and to provide a mini-review of this clinical entity that can serve as a bedside quick reference guide for endoscopists worldwide.

Double rarity: malignant masquerade biliary stricture in a situs inversus totalis patient

Background Situs inversus totalis is a rare anatomical variation of both the thoracic and the abdominal organs. Common bile duct strictures can be caused by malignant and benign diseases as well. 7–18% of the latter ones are 'malignant masquerade’ cases, as pre-operative differentiation is difficult. Case presentation We present the case of a 68y male patient with known situs inversus totalis and a recent onset of obstructive jaundice caused by a malignant behaving common bile duct stricture. Technically difficult endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, brush cytology, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasound, and percutaneous transhepatic drainage with stent implantation were performed for proper diagnosis. Cholecystectomy, common bile duct resection with hilar lymphadenectomy, and hepatico-jejunostomy have been performed following multidisciplinary consultation. The final histology report did not confirm any clear malignancy, the patient is doing well. Conclusion In situs inversus patients, both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures can lead to various difficulties. Benign biliary strictures are frequently misdiagnosed preoperatively as cholangiocellular carcinoma. Surgery is usually unavoidable, involving a significant risk of complications. The co-existence of these two difficult diagnostic and therapeutic features made our case challenging.